The rest of his troubles are caused by the fact that he’s often not really been following the law, despite what he claims. The first incident he had while open carrying he wasn’t really open carrying. He had the gun in the cargo pocket of his pants with the butt sticking out. The next time (when the bank employee called 911) he had a ClipDraw on the gun, with the gun stuck in his waistband and the butt sticking out. People on The High Road gave him so much grief over that last May that he went out and bought a belt holster so he wouldn’t look like a gangster.

During the police stop, he was at a minimum skirting the edge of the law. The gun was unloaded in a holster next to him. However, the magazine was in his lap. Either he was driving around with a magazine in his lap and didn’t put it away when a policeman pulled him over, or he put the magazine in his lap when the blue lights came on. Either way, it doesn’t look very good.

Like isntapundit said, it’s legal to have a gun and it’s legal to be an asshole, but who wants to be around an asshole with a gun? When cops respond to a 911 call about a man with a gun, don’t be an asshole. Be as calm as you can possibly be.

Just in case it’s not clear, though, here’s a practical reason to prefer legality over illegality. If you carry legally, you won’t have to think twice before pulling your gun whenever you encounter a situation that warrants it. If you’re carrying illegally and are personally threatened, then of course you’ll use your gun; better to be tried by twelve than carried by six. But what if the victim isn’t you, a close friend or a family member, but a perfect stranger? Or maybe even a near-stranger who recently pissed you off a little in some inconsequential way? Do you play the hero and risk prison for carrying, or do you protect your own skin, act horrified, and pretend to be unarmed? Better to avoid this dilemma entirely by getting a permit in the first place.

What DOES make a difference is whether or not you accept that there are consequences, repercussions, or results for whatever decision you make.

If someone is practicing open carry in an area where it is not common, the police are not known for being up to speed on the law, then you should not be surprised when the police frequently stop you and ask questions. In fact, you should be prepared for it and perhaps (just to make your life easier) carry a copy of the relevant laws that prove that what you are doing is illegal. Before handing it to the cop, saying something like, “Officer, I’m a law abiding citizen. I recognize that you may not have gotten the word or there is some confusion on this point, but since I’m a stubborn fool and feel it is not only my right, but my duty to exercise open carry, here is a copy of the laws that allow me to do this. I understand and respect your authority to verify that I am in accordance with the law, and don’t want any trouble.”

You’d think after a few experiences you’d sort of have the language down and could turn a confrontational situation into a win-win.

You shouldn’t be arrested for being a dick. Otherwise, the prisons would be more full. Jason’s behavior does not excuse the police. I expect people to be assholes but the police should know better.

Uncle: you had me fooled with “Jason and his wife detail what happens when you try to obey gun laws.” If that wasn’t taking Jason’s side of the debate, it sure sounded like it.

I know I was only getting his side and that there was a lot more than met the eyes. His story isn’t what I worried about, but rather the whole gun control issue. That’s all.

The more I read on that guy the more I realized he seemed to be quite a dick.